Frame member assemblies for wall structures



April 30, 1968 H. B. NEAL ETAL FRAME MEMBER ASSEMBLIES FOR WALL STRUCTURES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1965 HARRY B. NEAL DANlEL C. EHRLICH ATTORNEYS April 30, 1968 H B. NEAL ETAL FRAME MEMBER ASSEMBLIES FOR WALL STRUCTURES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1965 lNVENTORS I HARRY B. NEAL DANIEL C. EHRUCH liww, Ar

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FRAME MEMBER ASSEMBLIES FOR WALL STRUCTURES Filed May '7, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 HHQ @ lNVENTORS HARRY B. NEAL DANIEL C. EHRLICH Mum, J 4 BY 9 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,380,210 FRAME MEMBER ASSEMBLIES FOR WALL STRUCTURES Harry B. Neal and Daniel C. Ehrlich, Atlanta, Ga., as-

signors to Anaconda Aluminum Company, Louisville, Ky, a corporation of Montana Filed May 7, 1965, Ser. No. 453,934 7 Claims. (Cl. 52-235) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A frame member assembly for a panel wall structure including a pair of elongated structural members each having a pair of flanges formed thereon, with interlocking means formed on the flanges of each pair in position to engage the interlocking means of the other pair to releasably retain the members in assembled relation. The two structural members are provided with opposing panel clamping arms to releasably clamp and support the peripheral edge of a wall panel when the members are assembled.

This invention relates to wall structures and, more particularly, to frame member assemblies for wall structures made up of panel members, glass panes for example, which are retained and supported by the frame member assemblies.

Frame member assemblies according to the present invention have particular utility in connection with store front constructions and in curtain wall structures. For both types of use, the assemblies retain and support a plurality of flat panel members which, together with the frame assemblies, make up the complete wall structure. These flat panel members may be glass panes, or they may be made of a material other than glass, or some panels may be glass panes and others of a different material. Also, in a curtain wall structure for example, some of the panel members may be thicker than others.

Since the frame member assemblies (a vertical mullion being an example) do retain and support the panel memers, the structural features of the frame members which enable them to be assembled with respect to each other to make up the assembly, and support and retain a panel member adequately are of obvious importance. A problem has been to construct the various frame members making up the assembly so that they can perform their functions of retention and support with relatively few structural parts being required in the make-up of the frame members themselves. This results in economy in both the amount of material required and the cost of manufacture of the frame members.

Another problem involves ease of assembly at the job site with resultant decrease in labor costs. In the usual case, a frame member assembly consists primarily of two or more extruded metallic structural members which may be cut to length at the job site, and then assembled in position. Thus, ease of assembly, and also of disassembly to replace a broken panel for example, are further problems with which the present invention is concerned.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide new and improved frame member assemblies for wall structures which are made up of panel members retained and supported by the frame member assemblies.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such frame member assemblies which require relatively few structural parts to enable them to retain and support panel members adequately.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such frame member assemblies wherein, in a typical assembly, port-ions of frame members making up the assembly interlock to retain and support a panel member.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such frame member assemblies which do not require the use of extraneous fastening elements such as screws, spring clips, or the like, to maintain frame members in assembled relation with respect to each other.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such frame member assemblies which are capable of being assembled relatively easily and rapidly at the job site and, after being assembled, can be disassembled without undue difliculty.

The foregoing, and other objects are achieved in a frame member assembly which includes two elongated structural members. When used in conjunction with two wall panel members located with the edge of one panel member in adjacent spaced parallel relationship with an edge of the other panel member, the transverse width of the structural members is such as to exceed the spacing between the wall panel member edges. A resilient panel engaging element such as a molded plastic glazing strip is supported on each longitudinal edge of one side of each structural member. The resilient panel engaging elements on one structural member engage the outer surfaces of both wall panel members, while the panel engaging elements on the other structural member engage the inner surfaces of both panel members.

Each structural member is formed with a pair of spaced parallel flanges which are located to project from the structure member into the space between the wall panel member edges. The spacing between the flanges on the respective structural members is selected to be such that, upon movement of the structural members toward each other, the flanges on one member are deflected inwardly to pass into the space between the flanges on the other member. Interlocking teeth are formed on and extend the full length of the respective flanges and are inclined in a direction such that the structural members can be moved toward each other with a ratchet-like action relatively easily, but movement tending to withdraw the flanges of the one member from between the flanges of the other is resisted by the interlocking teeth.

The assembled structural members may be disassembled by drilling an opening through one of the structural members adjacent one end thereof and threading a bolt through the opening to bear on the other structural member. Continued turning of the bolt flexes the structural members slightly, thereby forcing the interlocking teeth on one end of the assembly to become disengaged and misaligned. This misalignment of the interlocking teeth permits the two structural members to be pulled apart relatively easily progressively from the initially flexed ends, with the teeth camming themselves apart as separation progresses along the length of the assembly.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following specification and to the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation view of a wall struc- 3 ture showing a number of panels supported by frame member assemblies according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 44 of FIG. 1, and illustrating an embodiment of the invention employed to support two panels of different thicknesses;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section view of the structural elements of FIG. 2 shown in disassembled relation;

FIG. 7 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the interlocking elements in assembled relation;

FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary showing of a portion of the interlocking elements;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a section of a wall constructed according to the present invention and showing an initial step in disassembling the assembly;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are vertical sectional views showing progressive steps in disassembling the assembly; and

FIG. 12 is an exaggerated schematic view, in section, illustrating how disassembly is completed.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a typical curtain wall structure is illustrated in FIG. 1 as including a plurality of panels 10 which are retained and supported in the wall by vertical and horizontal frame member assemblies designated generally by the numerals 12 and 14, respectively, which clampingly grip the respective panels 10 along their peripheral edges. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the frame member assemblies 12 take the form of rnullions which extend vertically along the vertical edges of adjacent panels 10, While frame member assemblies 14 are disposed between adjacent horizontal edges of adjacent panels 10 and, for convenience, will be referred to herein as division bars. Mullions 12 may or may not constitute load bearing members depending upon the individual installation.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 2, the frame member assembly, or mullion, 12 disclosed includes two elongated structural members 16 and 18, respectively of uniform transverse cross-section which, in the usual case, will be formed of extruded aluminum. Structural member 16 has a generally channel-shaped cross-section and includes an elongated base web designated generally 20 which terminates at each longitudinal edge in a perpendicularly projecting exterior flange 22. At the longitudinal edge of each flange 22 remote from base web 20, each flange is enlarged on its inner side surface, as at 24, and is formed with a recess 26 which is adapted to receive and retain a resilient glazing strip 28. Glazing strip 28 may be formed from any of several suitable commercially available materials such as a vinyl plastic, and is so shaped that it possesses a resiliency suflicient to provide a moisture-tight seal at its point of engagement with a wall panel member.

A pair of interior flanges 30 are integrally formed with base web 20 and project outwardly therefrom between exterior flanges 22. Interior flanges 30 are symmetrically located with respect to the longitudinal center line of base web 20, and terminate in spaced parallel edges 31 projecting outwardly from base web 20 a distance greater than the projection of exterior flanges 22. At the outer edge 31 of each flange 30 (see FIGS. 6-8), a single longitudinally extending tooth 32 projects from the outside surface of the flange outwardly toward the adjacent side flange 22. The outermost surface 33 of each tooth 32 is inclined outwardly generally toward base web 20, while the lower or inner side surface 34 of the tooth, i.e., that side surface facing base web 20, extends substantially parallel to the base web. The thickness of interior flanges 30 is selected so that the flanges are capable of limited resiliently resisted flexing movement toward and away from one another. Normally, the flanges project perpendicularly from base web 20 but (as can be observed in FIG. 11) when the frame member assembly 12 is being assembled or disassembled, the flanges 30 are deflected inwardly so that they are inclined toward each other to a limited extent.

Structural member 18 has a tubular body portion 35 of generally rectangular cross-section and includes a base web portion 36 (corresponding generally to base web 20 of structural member 16) having an exterior flange 37 projecting perpendicularly outward therefrom along each longitudinal side edge thereof. Side flanges 37 are recessed as at 38 to support a glazing strip at identical in structure and function to glazing strip 28 on member 16. As is evident from FIG. 2, the transverse width, i.e., horizontal dimension in FIG. 2, of structural member 18 is equal to the transverse width of structural member 16.

Structural member 18 is also formed with a pair of spaced parallel interior flanges 42 which project perpendicularly from base web 36 in symmetrically disposed relation on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the elongated base web 36. On the inner (facing) surfaces of flanges 42 a plurality of longitudinally extending generally trapezoidal shaped teeth 43 are formed, the surfaces 44 (FIGS. 68) of the teeth 43 which are adjacent, or facing base Web 36 extending in generally parallel relationship to base web 36, while surfaces 45 of the teeth 43 remote from base web 36 are inclined from the associated flange 42 inwardly toward base web 36. The surfaces 41 of teeth 43 most remote from flanges 42 are generally perpendicular to web 36. The teeth 43 extend the full length of flanges 42, with corresponding teeth 43 on the respective flanges 42 being spaced equal distance from base web 36 to form, in effect, a plurality of pairs of opposing paral lel teeth. The terminal edge 46 of each flange 42 is inclined inwardly to form an abutment surface 47 to guide the interior flanges 30 of structural member 16 into the illustrated assembled relationship.

The mullion assembly just described is assembled into a wall structure in the following manner. The structural members 18 of the mullion assembly, with the accompanying horizontal structural members 18 of division bar assemblies 14 which engage one side surface of the Wall panels 10 are first fixedly secured in their final position by any suitable means, not shown, but of conventional construction, and the panels are then moved into position in abutment with the glazing strips 40 provided in the various structural members 18 now in fixed assembled position. The panels are supported on the outer surface 48 of the upper flange 42 by resilient bearing blocks 49, and temporarily held in position.

Structural member 16 is now moved towards its mating structural member 18, with glazing strips 28 in opposed facing relationship to the already positioned glazing strips 40 and base web 20 is disposed in parallel opposed relationship with base web 36 of the fixedly mounted member 18. As structural member 16 is moved toward structural member 18, the outer surfaces 33 of teeth 32 on interior flanges 30 engage the inwardly inclined abutment surfaces 47 of interior flanges 42. Inclined surfaces 47, upon continued movement of structural member 16 toward member 18, cam the outer edges 31 of interior flanges 30 toward each other and cause flanges 30 to be resiliently deflected inwardly toward one another. As teeth 32 on flanges 30 are advanced inwardly beyond the inner edges of inclined surfaces 47, a similar action occurs as teeth 32 are moved inwardly beyond each set of teeth 43 on interior flanges 42, with structural member 16 moving toward its final assembled position with a ratchet-like action as teeth 32 move successively inwardly beyond the respective sets of teeth 43. Structural member 16 is forced toward structural member 18 until the glazing strips 28 on member 16 resiliently engage the peripheral surfaces of panel 10 to resiliently grip the respective panels between the opposed glazing strips 28 and 40.

The final assembled position of member 16 relative to member 18 is determined by the thickness of the panels which the assembly retains and supports in assembled relationship in the wall structure. Member 16 is moved toward member 18 until the opposed resilient glazing strips on the respective structural members clampingly grip the panels between them with the desired degree of firmness. Because of the relatively close spacing of successive teeth 43 on the respective flanges 42 (e.g. 0.035 inch typical) it is believed apparent that the assembly is adapted for use with pane-ls of various thicknesses within a given range of thicknesses determined by the number of teeth 43 formed on the interior flanges 42 of structural member 18.

Once structural member 16 is in its final assembled relationship with structural member 18, the engagement between teeth 32 on member 16 and teeth 43 on member 18 is such that withdrawal of member 16 in a direction away from member 18 is strongly resisted. The resilience of interior flanges 39, combined with the substantially planar face-to-face engagement between the teeth on the respective members, effectively resists disengagement of the teeth. However, in the event it becomes necessary to disassemble the assembled structure, as for example, when a glass panel 18 is broken, as illustrated in FIG. 9 of the drawings, a single hole 50 is bored through base web 20 between flanges 3t) closely adjacent one end of member 16. An elongated self-tapping bolt 51 is threaded into the hole 58, as indicated in FIG. 10, and the bolt is turned inward until the end 52 thereof bears firmly against base web 36 of structural member 18. Further turning of the bolt applies an increased load between teeth 32 and 43 tending to separate structural members 16 and 18 near the end of the assembly. This increased, concentrated load, applied to the surfaces 34 of teeth 32 creates a bending moment (due to the eccentric loading of the flange 30) which deflects the two flanges 30 inwardly toward one another a distance suflicient to permit the end portion of structural member 16 to bend slightly outward in a direction away from structural member 18. As the end portion of member 16 moves outward, the teeth 32 move past the set of teeth 43 with which they were originally 1 ber 16 may then readily be pulled from the assembly by hand. It has been found that the camming action does not materially damage the teeth so that the assembly may repeatedly be assembled and disassembled without loss of holding power.

The embodiments of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5 each incorporate the interlocking and panel gripping features just described, but differ from the embodiment of FIG. 2 primarily in the strength or loading carrying body portion of one or both of the structural elements. Thus, the assembly of FIG. 3 includes the structural member 16, described above, assembled with a second structural member 118 formed with exterior flanges 137 and interior flanges 142 formed integrally with base web 136. The relationship of flanges 137, and 142 to each other and to their respective structural details correspond exactly to the relationship and structural details of the respective flanges 37 and 42 of structural member 18.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the surface of base web 136 opposite the surface thereof having the flanges 142 thereon includes an outwardly projecting ledge 61 formed along one longitudinal edge and a plurality of beads 62 spaced between ledge 61 and the opposite longitudinal edge of surface 68. Integrally formed with base web 136, along the edge thereof opposite ledge 61 is a right angle section 63 having one leg extending perpendicular to and the other parallel to base web 136 to form a channel shaped body portion. A retaining lip 64 is formed on and projects inwardly from the free edge of the parallel leg of the right angle section. The assembly is shown supporting a panel 10 perpendicular to a supporting surface such as a horizontal floor, though it is believed apparent that the assembly may readily be used as a vertical mullion or a division bar wherein the assembly would be employed to support opposed parallel edges of two panels.

The assembly is secured to the supporting surface by an elongated anchoring member 65 having a web portion 66, mounted by any suitable means, not shown, directly onto the supporting surface. A first flange -67 integrally formed with and projecting upwardly from web 66 extends into the open side of the channel-shaped body portion to engage ledge 61 and beads 62 and thereby position structural member 118. Suitable means, not shown, may be employed to secure base web 136 to flange 67.

Anchoring member 65 includes a second flange 68 integrally formed at one edge of web 66 and extending parallel to flange 67 in position to engage a glazing strip 28 carried by flange 22 of member 16 to maintain base web 20 parallel to base web 136 when structural members 116 and 118 are assembled. A third flange 69 is integrally formed at the other edge of Web 66 parallel to flange 68. Flange 69 is spaced from flange 67 a distance greater than flange 68 to permit member 65 to be employed with the embodiment of FIG. 4.

When the assembly of FIG. 3 is employed in a position other than adjacent a supporting surface, so that the assembly grips and supports the peripheral edges of two separate panels, the closed side of the open channel body portion may be closed by a cover plate 70 (see FIG. 4) which snaps into engagement with ledge 61 and retaining lip 64.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 includes the structural member 16, described with relation FIG. 2, assembled with a second structural member 218 formed with exterior flanges 237 integral with a base web 236. A pedestal 71 is integrally formed with and projects perpendicularly to base web 236 centrally between exterior flanges 237. Pedestal 71 supports interior flanges 242 in parallel relation, spaced outwardly from base web 236, thereby increasing the spacing between exterior flanges 22 on structural member 16 and the opposed exterior flanges 237 of structural member 218 to thereby perm-it panels 218 of greatly increased thickness to be supported by the assembly.

When it is desired to support panels of lesser thickness than the illustrated panel 210, as for example, when panels of differing materials or thicknesses are supported on opposed sides of the assembly in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4, a right angle adapter 72 may be secured, as by bolts, not shown, to base web 236 between pedestal 71 and exterior flanges 237. Adapter 72 includes a glazing strip receiving groove 74 to support a glazing strip 46 in position to engage panel 10.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a structural member 316 assembled with a second structural member 318. Member 316 includes a base web 320 having a pair of exterior flanges 322 and a pair of interior flanges 330 integrally formed thereon. Flanges 322 and 338 are identical structurally and functionally to the flanges 22 and 30 of structural element 16.

Structural member 318 is formed with exterior flanges 337 and interior flanges 342 formed integrally with base web 336. Base web 336 and flanges 337 and 342 correspond in structure and function to the corresponding ele ments of structural member 18 described with relation to FIG. 2. Each of the structural elements 316 and 318 are formed with enlarged rectangular tubular body sections corresponding generally to the rectangular body portion 35 of structural member 18.

In order to more fully disclose the interlocking feature of this invention, the structural details, including typical dimensions, of a commercial curtain wall framing assembly embodying the invention and employed to frame and support exterior building panels, such as panels of plate glass, will be described with particular reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings. The structural members 16 and 18 respectively are aluminum extrusions and have an overall transverse (vertical dimension in FIG. 6) width of approximately 1.750 inches. The parallel flanges 30 integrally formed on base web 20 of member 16 are symmetrically located one on each side of the longitudinal enter line thereof and spaced apart approximately 0.291 inches. The overall length of flanges 30 measured from the external side of central web 20, is approximately 0.625 inches and the thickness of the respective flanges 30 is 0.040 inches. The tooth 32 formed adjacent the outer edge 31 of flanges 30 projects outwardly approximately 0.031 inches and has its outer surface 33 inclined at ap proximately 45 degrees with respect to the load bearing surface 34 which, in turn, is parallel to base web 20.

The flanges 42 on structural member 13 are substantially equal in length to the flanges 30 on structural member 16, the length of flanges 42 being measured from the terminal edge 46 thereof to the surface of base web 36 opposite the surface on which flanges 42 are formed. Flanges 42 are approximately 0.056 inches thick and are spaced apart approximately 0.447 inches. The plurality of teeth 43 formed on the inner opposed surfaces of flange 42 have the cross-sectional shape of a trapezoid, with the shorter side 41 being approximately 0.004 inches in length and parallel to the inner opposed surfaces of flanges 42. The surfaces 44 of teeth 43 have a transverse Width of approximately 0.036 inches and the surfaces 45 and 47 are inclined inwardly at approximately 45 degrees. The surfaces 44 on successive teeth 43 are spaced approximately 0.035 inches apart.

The commercial curtain wall assembly having the dimensions just mentioned have been found to provide ample support for the relatively large and heavy panels such as panels of plate glass employed in curtain wall structures or store fronts. The assembly is lightweight and sufliciently flexible so that it may be easily assembled without necessitating the use of special tools or requiring the attention of skilled personnel. Also, the assembly may be readily disassembled and reassembled without causing excessive damage to the interlocking structure.

While we have disclosed preferred embodiments of our invention, we wish it understood that we do not intend to be restricted solely thereto but that we do intend to cover all embodiments thereof which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and which come within the spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. A frame member assembly for retaining and supporting a wall panel member, said assembly comprising a first elongated structural member having a base web, a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending panel engageable means supported by said base web and facing outwardly from one side surface thereof, a pair of spaced substantially parallel longitudinally extending flanges supported on and projecting from said one side surface of said base web at a location between said panel engageable means outwardly to respective parallel outer edges, a second elongated structural member having a base web, a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending panel engageable means supported by the base web of said second structural member and facing outwardly from one side surface thereof, a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending flanges supported on said second structural member base web projecting from said one side surface thereof between and outwardly beyond said panel engageablc means thereon to respective parallel outer edges, the flanges on said first structural member being dimensioned for limited resilient deflection wherein their outer edges move toward one another, and ratchetlike means on the respective flanges of said first and sec- 0nd structural members engageable upon movement of said flanges on said first structural member between the flanges of said second structural members for releasably retaining said first and second structural members in assembled relation, said ratchet-like means including a lurality of projections on the flanges of at least one of said structural members for engaging the ratchet-like means on the other of said pair of flanges to provide a plurality of relative positions between said structural members when releasably retained in said assembled relation, said flanges on said first structural member being capable of limited resilient deflection toward one another upon application of a concentrated load tending to separate the assembled first and second structural members at one end thereof to disengage said ratchet-like means to permit disassembly of said first and second structural members.

2. A frame member assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said ratchet-like means engageable between the flanges of said first and second structural members comprises interlocking teeth means on the surfaces of the flanges of said structural members disposed in face-toface relationship with each other when said first structural member flanges are received between said second structural member flanges.

3. A frame member assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said interlocking teeth means on said first structural member comprises a single tooth on each of the first structural member flanges projecting from the outer edge of the flange toward the first structural member panel engageable means, and the interlocking teeth means on said second structural member comprises a series of longitudinally extending individual teeth projecting from the facing side surfaces of the second structural member flanges at spaced points from the second structural member base web.

4. A frame member assembly for retaining and supporting a wall panel member, said assembly comprising a first elongated structural member having a base Web, a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending panel engageable means supported by said base web and facing outwardly from one side surface thereof, a pair of spaced substantially parallel longitudinally extending flanges sup ported on and projecting from said one side surface of said base web at a location between said panel engageable means outwardly to respective parallel outer edges, 2. second elongated structural member having a base web, a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending panel engageable means supported by the base web of said second structural member and facing outwardly from one side surface thereof, a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending flanges supported on said second structural member base web and projecting from said one side surface thereof between and outwardly beyond said panel engageable means thereon to respective parallel outer edges, the flanges on said first structural member being dimensioned for limited resilient deflection wherein their outer edges move toward one another, means on the outer edges of said second structural member flanges for deflecting said first structural member flanges inwardly toward each other when the outer edges of said first structural member flanges are pressed against the outer edges of said second structural member flanges to thereby cause the flanges of said first structural member to be snugly received between the flanges of said second structural member upon further movement of said structural members toward each other, and ratchet-like means engageable between the flanges of said first and second structural members for releasably retaining the flanges of said first structural member between the flanges of said second structural member, said ratchet-like means including a plurality of projections on the flanges of at least one of said structural members for engaging the ratchet-like means on the other of said pair of flanges to provide a plurality of relative positions between said structural members when releasably retained in said assembled relation, said flanges on said first structural member being capable of limited resilient deflection toward one another upon application of a concentrated load tending to separate the assembled first and second structural members at one end thereof to disengage said ratchet-like means to permit disassembly of said first and second structural members.

5. For use in combination with a wall panel of uniform thickness adjacent its edges; a frame member assembly adapted to clampingly grip the opposed side surfaces of said panel along an edge thereof to retain and support said panel, said frame assembly comprising a first and a second elongated structural member, each of said structural members having an elangated base web and resilient sealing strip means on the base web along a longitudinal side edge thereof and facing outwardly from one side of the base web, a first pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending flanges integral with the base web of said first structural member and projecting from one side surface of the first member base web outwardly beyond the sealing strip means on said first member base web, a second pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending flanges integral with the base web of said second member and projecting from the one side surface of the second member base web outwardly beyond the sealing strip means on the second member base web, the transverse spacing between the flanges and sealing strip means on the respective first and second structural members being such that upon movement of said first and second members toward each other with their respective sealing strip means and one surface in opposed facing relationship said first pair of flanges is snugly received between said second pair of flanges with the outer side surfaces of said first pair of flanges in substantially opposed face-to-face relationship with the respective inner side surfaces of said second pair of flanges, and longitudinally extending interlocking teeth means on the aforementioned side surfaces of said flanges engageable with each other and operable when engaged to permit ratchet-like movement of said base webs of said first and said second structural members toward each other and to resist movement of said base webs away from each other, said interlocking teeth means including a plurality of parallel laterally spaced tooth elements on said side surfaces of at least one of said pair of flanges to provide a plurality of relative positions between said structural members whereby the sealing strip means of said assembly is adapted to clampingly grip and support wall panels of various thicknesses falling within a predetermined range of thicknesses, the flanges of one of said pair of flanges being dimensioned for limited resilient deflection toward one another upon application of a concentrated load tending to separate the assembled first and second structural members adjacent one end thereof to disengage the interlocking teeth means to permit disassembly of said first and second elongated structural members progressively from said one end.

6. A frame member assembly for retaining and supporting a wall panel member, said assembly comprising, a first elongated structural member having a base web, a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending glazing strips mounted on said base web and facing outwardly from one side surface thereto, a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending flanges integral at one edge with said base web and projecting from said side surface of said base web at a location between said glazing strips outwardly beyond said glazing strips to respective parallel outer edges, a second elongated structural member having a base web, a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending glazing strips mounted on the base web of said second structural member and facing outwardly from one side surface thereof, a longitudinally extending mounting pedestal integrally formed on said second structural member base web projecting outwardly from said one surface between said glazing strips, a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending flanges on said second structural member integral at one edge with said pedestal and projecting outwardly therefrom beyond said glazing strips and terminating in respective parallel outer edges, the flanges on said first structural member being capable of limited resilient deflection wherein their outer edges move toward each other, means on the outer edges of the second structural member flanges for deflecting the first structural member flanges inwardly toward each other when the outer edges of the first structural member flanges are pressed against the outer edges of the second structural member flanges to thereby cause the flanges of said first structural member to be snugly received between the flanges of said second structural member upon further movement of said structural members toward each other, and integrally foimed on and means ratchetlike engageable between the flanges of said structural members for retaining the flanges of said first structural member between the flanges of said second structural member, said ratchet-like means including a plurality of projections on the flanges of at least one of said structural members for engaging the ratchet-like means on the other of said pair of flanges to provide a plurality of relative positions between said structural members, said flanges on said first structural member being capable of limited resilient deflection toward one another upon application of a concentrated load tending to separate the assembled first and second structural members at one end thereof to disengage said ratchet-like means to permit disassembly of said first and second structural members.

7. For use in combination with a wall structure wherein a pair of wall panel members are located relative to each other with an edge of one panel member disposed in adjacent spaced parallel relationship to an edge of the other panel member; a frame member assembly comprising a first elongated structural member having longitudinal side edges spaced from each other by a distance greater than the spacing between the adjacent edges of the panel members and adapted to overlie the space between said panel members at one side of said wall structure, glazing means on each longitudinal side edge of said first structural member adapted to engage the respective panel members in resilient sealing engagement at each side of the space between said panel members, a pair of spaced A parallel longitudinally extending flanges on said first structural member adapted to project into the space be tween said adacent edges of said panels when the glazing means of said first structural member is engaged with said panel members, a second elongated structural member having longitudinal side edges spaced from each other by a distance greater than the space between said panel members and adapted to overlie the space between said adjacent edges at the opposite side of said wall structure, glazing means on each longitudinal edge of said second structural member adapted to engage the respective panel members in resilient sealing engagement, a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending flanges on said second structural member adapted to project into the space between said panels when the glazing means on said second structural member is engaged with said panel members, the flanges on said first structural member being adapted to project between the flanges of said second structural member when the glazing means of both structural members are engaged with said panel members, and interlocking teeth means integrally formed on the surfaces of the flanges of said first structural member engageable with cooperating interlocking teeth means on the surfaces of the flanges of said second structural member for firmly resisting withdrawal of the flanges of said first structural member from between the flanges of said second structural member, said interlocking teeth means on said first and second structural member flanges including a single tooth integrally formed on each of the first structural member flanges projecting from the outer edges of the flanges toward the first structural member sealing strip and a series of longitudinally extending individual teeth integrally formed on and projecting from facing side surfaces of the second structural member flanges at spaced points from the second structural member base web, said teeth on said first and second structural members being disposed in face-to-face relationship with each other when said first structural member flanges are disposed between said second structural member flanges, said flanges on said first structural member being capable of limited resilient deflection toward one another upon application of a concentrated load tending to separate the assembled first and second structural members at one end thereof to disengage the interlocking means on the flanges of said first and second structural members adjacent said one end, whereby the assembly may be disassembled by pulling said first and second structural members apart progressively from said one end with said interlocking means on the flanges of said first and second structural members being disengaged by a camming action between themselves as separation of the assembly progresses.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,507,769 9/1924 Disbro 52-501 1,732,046 10/1929 Himmel et a1 52--501 3,251,168 5/1966 Waring et a1 52235 X FOREIGN PATENTS 559,211 7/1957 Belgium. 1,109,944 2/1956 France.

961,136 5/1964 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

R. S. VERMUT, P. C. FAW, Assistant Examiners. 

